CALS Day took on a festival atmosphere with more than 35 science exhibits, food, animals, tie-dye and music during a celebration of the diversity of the college’s research and people.
“This is so great for people who don’t realize the breadth of study available at CALS,” said Aleah Jones ’19, an agricultural sciences major from just outside New York City. “I feel really blessed; you are surrounding yourself with greatness and so many opportunities by being here.”
Long lines for free T-shirts and ice cream formed as the community gathered despite the brisk weather. Within the first half-hour, about 500 shirts and tote bags were distributed for tie-dying, and more than 600 servings of Cornell Dairy ice cream sponsored by the CALS Alumni Association were given away. Performances from the marching band, Yamatai and the Cornell Big Red Steel Drum Band occurred throughout the day.
“I had no idea it would be so big,” said Mikal Nathani ’19. “I thought it would be confined to one part of the quad; this is way more than I expected.”
Nathani, an applied economics and management major in the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, stopped at the Cornell Craft Beverage Institute booth to learn about wine production and hops growing. Brewing extension associate Kaylyn Kirkpatrick discussed the nuances of hop varieties grown in New York.